The Gift of Giving
Contributed by Charice Chambers
The Palmer Senior Center is in a financial crisis. Things are so desperate that we have suspended the congregate lunches that have become so important to area seniors for both nutritional and socializational reasons. For many the luncheon meal served at the Center represents the only hot meal of the day. We are asking you to help not only to bring back this important activity, but help maintain the many additional services that the Center provides for our seniors. One of the ways to help the Center is to make your gift purchases at our gift shop!
One of the best kept secrets in the Valley is the Palmer Senior Center gift shop. It is filled with an amazing collection of goods, both consignment and retail. The shop was created as a showcase for senior artists and crafts persons as well as non-senior Alaskan artists. Because it was designed to bring high quality giftables to a senior population, the end price needed to be appreciably lower for seniors who were most often on limited fixed incomes. The good news is that the shop is open to the public who can also take advantage of high-quality merchandise at lower-than-average prices. The bad news is, of course, the off-the-beaten-path location of the gift shop. It is housed in the Palmer Senior Center across from and adjacent to Palmer Junior Middle School, definitely not in the city’s shopping district. The even worse news is that the gift shop is open on a limited basis: Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 2 pm. This makes shopping with us a problematic activity. Because we are staffed entirely by volunteers, the open hours and days cannot be altered. So, we ask you to go a bit out of your way and expand your time schedule to shop with us as a means of helping the Center. All revenues from the gift shop, after costs, go to Palmer Senior Center. Please take time to come and shop with us. Each time you do, you will be assisting the Senior Center in fulfilling its mission to enrich the lives of Palmer’s senior population.
Much can be found within the walls of the gift shop from perfectly balanced ivory handled hunting knives to intricately wrought gold gemstone earrings. Locally hand-crafted baskets of all sizes line the shelves, unique Alaska hug dolls nested in many. There is a small but robust children’s department filled with handcrafted layettes, booties of all sorts of design including roller skates and cowboy boots. Knitted elephants, cows and bears perch on miniature chairs amongst a myriad of rainbow hued hand crocheted and knitted hats and dresses. Child themed art of all types stands ready to grace the walls of a baby’s room. The shop also features local native art. A large selection of ivory necklaces, seal skin wallets and cell phone cases, beautifully beaded medicine pouch pendants, tulip pouches, and a variety of beaded earrings featuring a plethora of themes fill the cabinets. Native carvings and skin art dominated by a pair of Shaktoolik Pass spirit masks line the shelves. Soaps, creams, lotions and potions to allay the itch and pain of many skin ailments, stock the racks as well. Nearly all are Alaskan produced.
The home goods department features hand embroidered tea towels, crocheted cotton wash cloths, a variety of aprons, placemats and table runners, microwave hot bowl holders, all wool artist produced dryer balls, mugs, cups and tumblers, and even locally sourced honey. The talents of many seniors are exhibited in the collection of quilts and throws displayed throughout the shop. Wall hangings featuring moose, wolves, sled dogs and other Alaskan themes festoon the walls. The gift shop also houses art prints, original art and a constantly changing array of John Gould’s vision of Alaska photos stunningly rendered on aluminum sheeting.
Perhaps the most dominant feature of the gift shop is its wildly colorful array of kuspuks. With the largest collection of these native garments in the state, many customers make the senior center’s gift shop a destination. Most of these distinctive garments are designed and executed by seamstress Bobbi Lewis. Kuspuks are available in a wide variety of colors, sizes and styles from traditional to contemporary.
There is something for virtually every taste at the gift shop. Please consider making a purchase at the gift shop as one of the many ways you can help to support the mission of the Palmer Senior Center. Give the gift of giving: delight a friend with that perfect something while giving to a senior through your purchase!
We are located at 1132 S. Chugach Street.